In a phone conversation with the Independent, network founder
and CEO Lawrence Hernandez paints himself and his staff in sympathetic
tones. He calls himself the victim of hostility and bias, despite what
he considers a high level of quality and transparency in his operation.
And, he says, his charter school network is surviving because of
parents who trust his schools and ignore negative headlines. He says
3,000 children will attend his schools in 2009-10.

"Parents don't keep their kids in bad schools," Hernandez says.

The Cesar Chavez School Network has charter schools in Pueblo and
Colorado Springs, and one opening in Denver. Recently, the network has
been criticized for high executive salaries and bonuses. Evidence also
surfaced showing inconsistencies and questionable practices in
administering the Colorado Student Assessment Program test at Cesar
Chavez Academy in Pueblo ("Leader or cheater?" News, June 4). A former
CCA student and her mother has claimed the child had been instructed to
cheat on the CSAP ("Rewriting on the wall" News, June 25).

Pueblo City Schools superintendent John Covington has sent a letter
to state Education Commissioner Dwight Jones requesting an
investigation. Jones is expected to respond this week, according to a
Department of Education spokesperson.

Though the Indy has written three news stories on the
burgeoning controversies, attempts to reach Hernandez at his office had
proven futile. Hernandez, who posted a message last week at csindy.com, says his office is not always
staffed in summer, and he never received the messages left on
voicemail.

Speaking from his cell phone, Hernandez first addresses the CSAP
issue and denies any cheating.

"Our staff, I believe, have the highest level of integrity," he
says, "and they follow the procedures to the T."

Hernandez notes that every staffer must sign a document agreeing to
follow the rules, and says he's invited representatives from Pueblo
City Schools and the Department of Education to observe the testing
multiple times. But Pueblo City Schools District Assessment Coordinator
Robert Vise denies ever having been invited by Hernandez. State
spokespeople say only individual districts should oversee testing.

Despite his best efforts, Hernandez says, he is plagued regularly by
accusations of cheating. Sometimes it's the district, he says, other
times it's a disgruntled parent, former employee or child who's been
kicked out of the school.

"This is sort of an annual event for us," he says.

Regarding salaries, Hernandez defends them. In particular, he says
he deserves his — in 2007-8 he earned $220,629 plus a $41,103
benefit package — because his job is "highly politicized," and
complex state and federal laws have him constantly jumping through
hoops. He adds that though more than $250,000 in bonuses were paid in
June for the 2008-9 school year, no bonuses would be paid in 2009-10
because of budget constraints.

Hernandez downplays other concerns, including accusations of
nepotism, and rumors that his school board members are financially
connected to the schools through contracts. He does not deny the latter
claim, but says board members reveal conflicts of interest and recuse
themselves when appropriate. As for the family members, Hernandez says
he employs a handful, but denies any favoritism.